Barbados Facts.

Experience Barbados’ night life in a unique way aboard the Atlantis Submarine. The submarine uses powerful spot lights that everyone can witness the view of the beautiful coral reef. Only two places on earth offer this kind of experience and one could be availed in Barbados. A very romantic as well as awe-inspiring experience compared to the day tour. The night dive is definitely accompanied by a short cocktail party in which there is a chance to meet the pilot of the submarine and crews while refreshing your taste with native delicacies. Additionally, one can enjoy the spectacular beaches, sea, and beautiful weather.

Important and Interesting Facts about Barbados

Barbados was the only vacation destination in this Hemisphere with a scheduled Concorde One of the retired British Airways concords now resides at our international airport.

Barbados has pure drinking water and was the first Caribbean island to have piped water.

The island has excellent telecommunications systems.

Barbados exports $57 million of rum per year across the world.

There are just under 20 Green certified hotels in Barbados, one of the highest number per square mile.

Barbados can be known as the “the land of the flying fish”, with flying fish being a common sight around the island. In fact, it is said that flying fish actually glide, more than they ‘fly’. Flying fish have also been known to remain in ‘flight’ for up to 45 seconds and can also travel at speeds of more than 70 km per hour (43 miles per hour).

Barbados boasts of being the only island in the Caribbean that enjoys the luxury of having daily flights to Canada, England, and the United States of America.

Barbados is home to Robyn ‘Rihanna’ Fenty (affectionally nicknamed ‘Riri’ by locals), one of the most popular female singers of today. While performing at her high school’s pageant she was spotted by producer Evan Rogers, then, later went to the US to pursue a musical career.

Caving in Barbados. The open train will take you deep into Harrison’s.The Cave Interpretive Centre’s interactive exhibits and short video presentation provide a brief overview of the 2.3-km cave’s history, preparing you for a 45-minute tram tour through an underground wonderland filled with stalactites, stalagmites and waterfall-like flowstone formations.

It is home to a large Mongoose Originally imported from India to take care of the rats in the sugar cane fields. This plan hit an unfortunate snag as the rat is a nocturnal animal and the mongoose scurries along by the day! Instead they ate the snakes, which was the original predator of the rats.

In this country, the taxis ply without a meter. Fares are predetermined and you have to ask the cab driver the fare before you get in.

Recently, a Barbadian man (Mr. James Sisnett) held the title of second oldest man in the world, and oldest man in the Western Hemisphere. Mr. Sisnett died in May 2013 at the age of 113.

Barbados boasts that it has the world’s largest collection of 17thcentury British iron cannons. As of today, more than four hundred cannons have been found around the island.

George Washington visited the island. Yes, even the first American president paid a visit to the lovely island. Plus, it is said to be his only trip outside of the United States.

Historical and Cultural Facts about Barbados

When first settled by the British in 1625, Barbados was found to be almost totally covered in dense jungle, with a very large population of wild pigs.

The first slaves in Barbados were white (called Indentured Servants); people who, for various reasons, had been deemed enemies of the Crown. This practice was so prevalent during the period 1640 to 1650, that a phrase for punishment was coined “to be Barbadoed”.

People, in times past, traveled from all over the world to Barbados for its healing qualities. These were to be immersed totally, with the exception of the head, in the sands of the beaches of Cattlewash in St. Andrew. This treatment was believed to cure many ills. This practice lasted for some years before waning.

During the period 1841 – 1845, Barbados was considered the healthiest place in the world to live, having 1 death per 66 people, compared to world averages of approximately 1 death per 35 people.

The world’s greatest cricketer was born in Barbados. Arguably the world’s greatest cricketer, Sir Garfield St. Auburn Sobers was born in 1936 in the parish of St. Michael in Barbados. He is widely considered to be one of, if not the, greatest ever cricket all-rounder.

The first aircraft in Barbados was brought over by ship to Bridgetown, assembled and then flown from the Garrison Savannah in 1913.

The Barbados National flower is called the ‘Pride of Barbados’ (Caesalpinia pulcherrima). The flowers are yellow, orange, or red and can be found all over the island. The leaves of ‘ the Pride of Barbados’ are given to crying babies. The leaf is supposed to help make a baby stop crying. It is dipped in breast milk and then given to the crying child.

Barbadians love pork and have many recipes for succulent pig dishes. It is therefore no surprise that most of the pork consumed on the island is produced locally.

The cuisine in Barbados includes many recipes of fish, seafood, sweet potato, yam, breadfruit, cassava, rice, pork, and pasta. The national dish is Cou Cou and Flying Fish.

As far as alcohol goes, Barbados has given its citizens a considerable amount of freedom. The legal age for drinking alcohol in the country is 18 years; however, children between 10-17 years are permitted to consume alcohol when accompanied by a parent.

Mount Gay Barbados Rum is over 300 years old. It was first produced in 1703. It is one of the oldest and most famous brands of fine rum in the world.

Chattel houses are wooden dwellings strongly associated with Barbados’ heritage. The word ‘chattel’ means movable property, so it’s only logical that a chattel house is a ‘movable house’.